Promotes Secessionist Sentiments: Finance Minister on Tamil Nadu’s Rs Symbol Decision

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to replace the rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter for ‘Ru’ in promotional materials for the state’s 2025-26 budget. The move, announced just a day before the budget presentation, has sparked a fresh political confrontation between the DMK government and the BJP-led Centre.

In a statement, Sitharaman accused the DMK of engaging in divisive politics, stating that the removal of the official rupee symbol undermines national unity. “If the DMK has a problem with ‘₹’, why didn’t it protest back in 2010 when it was officially adopted under the Congress-led UPA government, in which the DMK was an ally?” she asked.

She also pointed out the irony of the situation, noting that the symbol was designed by Th. D. Udaya Kumar, the son of former DMK MLA N. Dharmalingam. “By erasing it now, the DMK is not only rejecting a national symbol but also utterly disregarding the creative contribution of a Tamil youth,” she said.

Sitharaman further highlighted the linguistic roots of the word ‘Rupaai’ (ரூபாய்), which has origins in the Sanskrit word ‘Rupya’, meaning ‘wrought silver’ or ‘a worked silver coin’. She argued that the rupee’s historical significance extends beyond India, pointing out that several countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, and Mauritius, continue to use the term ‘Rupee’ for their currencies.

The finance minister also emphasised the global recognition of the rupee symbol and its importance in international financial transactions. “At a time when India is pushing for cross-border payments using UPI, should we really be undermining our own national currency symbol?” she questioned.

Her remarks come amid Tamil Nadu’s ongoing resistance to the Centre’s language policies, particularly the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP). The Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the imposition of Hindi, advocating for its long-standing two-language policy of Tamil and English.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai defended the government’s decision, dismissing claims that it was an act of defiance against the Centre. “There is nothing illegal about it… this is not a ‘showdown’. We prioritise Tamil, and that is why the government went ahead with this,” he said.

However, the Tamil Nadu BJP has condemned the move, with state spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy accusing the DMK of fostering separatist sentiments. “The Stalin government thinks Tamil Nadu is different from India. This is just another distraction from their governance failures,” he alleged.

The rupee symbol controversy has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between the DMK and the Centre. The issue is likely to play a role in the upcoming state elections, with the DMK positioning itself as a defender of Tamil identity, while the BJP seeks to expand its influence in a state where it has traditionally struggled.

Adding to the political friction, Chief Minister MK Stalin recently accused the BJP of using the NEP as a tool to push its ideological agenda and manipulate electoral constituencies in northern states. “We oppose the NEP as it will completely destroy Tamil Nadu’s education system. The BJP is trying to increase its number of MPs in the North to sustain its rule, but we will stop it,” he declared at a public rally.

Stalin also alleged that the NEP undermines Tamil Nadu’s social justice policies, arguing that it fails to recognise the state’s reservation system and promotes caste-based vocational education.